Latch connector for sectional table tops



Nov. 25, 1952 J. A. MAHR LATCH CONNECTOR FOR SECTIONAL TABLE TOPS FiledOct. 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f J'u/z'us 1 74M Nov. 25, 1952J. A. MAHR 2,619,394

LATCH CONNECTOR FOR szcnomu. TABLE TOPS v Filed Oct. 20, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I 4/114; M/FaAr Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH CONNECTOR FOR SECTIONAL TABLE TOPS 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in tables and moreparticularly to a latch mechanism for connecting two or more tables toform a single table comprising detachably connected table sections.

While the invention is intended for general use to detachably connecttables having rectangular tops, it is especially well adapted forconnecting tables of the type disclosed and broadly claimed in mypending application for United States Letters Patent filed November 5,1948, under Serial No. 58,424.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel mechanism for rigidlyand detachably connecting two or more tables end to end, side by side,or end to side, so that the tops thereof are smooth and in the sameplane without gaps therebetween.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel devices andcombination of devices, hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal,substantially central section, showing two tables detachably connectedend to end by two of my improved latches, and also showing at the outerend of the tables, on each side thereof, one of the units of one of thelatches;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table tops, as shown in Fig. 1, withthe leg frames sectioned on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of the invention as shown in Fig. 2, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly insection taken on the line l l of Fig. 3 and turned right side up, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view principally in section, taken on theline 55 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view showing two tables connected side by side,some parts being removed; and

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 8, except that the tables areconnected end to side.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown two tables 5, eachhaving folding leg frames 6 identical with the leg frames shown in thepending application for Letters Patent heretofore referred to.

Each table 5 has a rectangular top I which rests on a rectangular frame8 made of side angle bars 9, and end angle bars It). The frame 8 furtherincludes a pair of laterally spaced cross-tie angle bars II rigidlysecured at their ends to the side bars 9. The table top I is secured tothe frame 8 by a plurality of clips I2 which overlap the horizontalflanges of the angle bars 9, I9 and II. These clips I2 are secured byscrews I3 to the table top i. The leg frames 6 are pivoted to the anglebars I i, as indicated at I4. It is important to note that the verticalflanges of the end angle bars I9 are turned downwardly, and their outerfaces are flush with the end edges of the table top I.

The latch mechanism includes, at each end of the frame 3, a cam fingerI5, and a lever I5 having near its outer end portion, a shoulder IT. Thecam finger I5 is rigidly secured to one of the side angle bars 9 andextends outwardly thereof under the table top 7. The lever I6 is pivotedto an outwardly projecting ear I8 rigidly secured to the other sideangle bar 9 for swinging movement in the plane of the frame 8. The leverI6 outwardly of its shoulder I1 is upwardly inclined to afford a handhold I9 by which the lever may be manipulated. As shown in Figs. 2 and3, the two cam fingers I5 and the two levers I6, at the abutting ends ofthe two tables 5, are diagonally opposite each other so that there is acam finger I5 and a lever I6 on each side of the table tops I. Byswinging the levers I6 toward the cam fingers I5, they pass thereunderand their shoulders I7 engage the convex back edges of the cam fingersI5 and draw the two table tops I toward each other and clamp theadjacent ends thereof and the respective end angle bars 8 together.

In addition to the cam fingers I5 and levers I5, the two table tops 1are further detachably connected by dowel pins 29. One of these dowelpins 29 is secured to the downturned flange of each end angle bar II) oneach table top I and projects outwardly thereof. The dowel pins 29 onadjacent ends of the two table tops 1 extend through holes 2 I in thedownturned flanges of the end angle bars I9, Figs. 2 and 3. Obviously,the dowel pins 29 positively hold the two table tops I against relativemovement in all directions except endwise movement to separate saidtable tops. The two dowel pins 20 on adjacent ends of the table tops 1are diagonally opposite one another.

In some types of tables, the rectangular frame may be dispensed with andin lieu thereof, only end angle bars, and short side angle bars areused, secured to the table tops I by screws, not shown.

It is evident that any number of tables may be connected end to end,side to side, o end to side to form a single table.

Referring now to the arrangement of the tables as shown in Figs. 6 and7, wherein parts that correspond to like parts in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, are given the same reference numerals followed by a prime InFig. 2, the table tops 1 can only be connected end to end and in orderthat the table tops can be connected side by side, as shown in Figs. 6and 7, or end to side in addition to being connected end to end, thereis added to the frame 8 of each table top I an extension 22 on eachsidethereof. Each frame extension 22 is formed by an angle bar and includesa longitudinal member 23 and inturned members 24. The downturned flangesof the longitudinal members 23 are flush with the longitudinal edges ofthe table tops 1' and the inturned members 24 extend to the framesideangle bars 9'. To the inturned members 24 of each frame extension 22 aresecured to the one a cam flnger25 and to the other a lever 26. The camfingers 25 and the lever '26 are identical with cam fingers l5 and thelevers 16.

To connect the two table tops 1 side -byside, as shown in Fig. -6, thecam fingers 25 and the levers 26 on the adjacent sides of the table topsI are used. In connecting'the two table tops 'l,

as shown in Fig. 'I, wherein'one end of one of oneof the table tops 'l'isconnected to one of the sides of the other table top 1, a-combinationof the cam fingers |5'25 and levers l6*26 is used.

The dowel pins on the longitudinal member-'23 are designated by thenumeral 28. It is not thought necessary to show the holes in-thelongitudinal member-23 for thedowel pins 28.

The drawings illustrate a commercial "form of the invention, but it willbe understood that the invention described is capable of certainmodifications as to details of construction and arr-angementof partswithin the-scope of theinvention herein disclosed.

What'I claim is:

Two tables having rectangular tops, a pair of latches connecting thetables with their tops in edgewise abutting engagement, said latches.be-

ing under the-table tops and spanning the joint therebetween, saidlatches including a pair of cam fingers that extend in oppositedirections transversely of the tables-and fixed at their-inner ends onerelative to each table top, said cam fingersexcept at their fixed endsbeing spaced below the table tops and parallel thereto, the

4 back edges of the cam fingers being curved outwardly toward said jointand affording cams, said latches further including a pair of cars fixed,one relative to each table top opposite the cam fingers, and a pair oflevers pivoted one to each ear for swinging movement between the tabletops and the cam fingers, the levers at their outer end portions beingdownwardly offset to afford shoulders engageable with the cams duringswinging of the levers over the cam fingers to draw the tables towardeach other, the offset end portions of the levers outwardly of theshoulders afford- .inghand holds.

bar being turned inwardly and the other downwardly, a table top on eachof the frames and secured-thereto, said table top extending outwardly ofthe frame side bars, the endsof each table top being flush with theouter faces of the downturned flanges ofthe end angle bars, and Ya pairof latches connecting the two tables in endwise abutting engagement,each latch including an ear, a lever pivoted at one end portion to theear and a cam finger having a convex edge, the outer end portion of thelever being bent downwardly to afford a shoulder engageable .withtheconvex edge of the cam finger, said lever outwardly of its shoulderbeing bent upwardly, each side bar having at one end portion one of theears and at its other end portion one of the cam fingers,-the ears andthe cam fingers on each of the two side bars being in reverse order, theears and the cam fingers being securedto the outturned flanges of theside bars on the under sides thereof and projecting outwardly thereof,said levers being between the ears and the table top and thelevers,.when in engagement with the cam fingers,.being between saidfingers and the table Number Name Date 964,996 Mathes July 19,19101,014,217 Goehstet a1 Jan. 9, 1912 1,351,736 Bear Sept. '7, 19202,481,350 Rosenberg Sept. 6, 1949

